Travel to/from UK

1. Is LOT planning to reduce its route network to the UK due to the nearing Brexit date?

We are not planning to reduce the number of our scheduled flights to and from the UK due to Brexit. Passengers planning to travel to or from the UK on LOT Polish Airlines flights will not be affected in this respect after leaving the EU by this country.

2. What can I expect when travelling to and from the UK after Brexit?

Generally, there are two possible scenarios.

The first scenario is ‘no-deal Brexit’, i.e. without a withdrawal agreement, which means that some agreements between the UK and other EU member states, including Poland, may cease to be in effect after leaving the EU by this country. This may cause problems for Polish citizens while crossing the UK border and staying on the UK territory.

The second scenario is ‘Brexit with a deal’, i.e. based on a withdrawal agreement concluded between the UK and the EU, which would lay down the terms and conditions for the UK’s exit from the EU. In this case, during the transition period (i.e. until the end of 2020), there will be no changes for anyone travelling to and from the UK, also onboard planes.

3. Which documents will I need to board a plane after Brexit?

In the event of ‘no-deal Brexit’, passport will be the document enabling the bearer to cross the UK border. Visas will not be required provided that the stay in the UK will take no longer than 3 months.

As declared by the UK government, in the event of ‘no-deal Brexit’, an EU domestic identity card will remain a valid document entitling the bearer to cross the UK border for a certain period that will end before 2020. The exact date when Polish domestic identity cards will cease to be accepted has not been decided. The Polish border guard service will also continue to accept Polish identity cards during border checks when leaving and entering the Polish territory. However, it is recommended to travel with a valid passport.

In the case of ‘Brexit with a deal’, during the transition period (i.e. until the end of 2020) Polish citizens will be able to cross the border as before, i.e. a Polish identity card will be sufficient to enter the UK territory. One should bear in mind, however, that even now, despite being an EU member state, the UK is not a member of the Schengen Area.

No, according to the statement of the UK government, until the end of 2020 EU citizens will not need to have a visa to enter the UK territory provided that their stay is not longer than 3 months. However, this might change after 1st January 2021.

4. Will I need a visa to enter the UK after Brexit?

No, according to the statement of the UK government, until the end of 2020 EU citizens will not need to have a visa to enter the UK territory provided that their stay is not longer than 3 months. However, this might change after 1st January 2021.

5. Will I need passport to board a plane departing to or from the UK after Brexit?

As assured by the UK government, in the case of ‘no-deal Brexit’ it will be possible to cross the UK border with an identity card only for a certain period of time that will end before 2020. The exact date when domestic identity cards will cease to be accepted is not currently known and is yet to be announced. That is why the Polish board guard service recommends the use of a valid passport.

6. Will there be any additional formalities or charges payable at the airport after Brexit?

In the event of ‘no-deal Brexit’, the EU free movement of goods will end, which may mean that additional formalities including the checks of export and import documents as well as wider customs checks will be introduced at airports. It is not yet known how any such additional procedures will look in practice. EU citizens travelling to the UK may need to undergo additional baggage checks and submit customs declaration forms, which will possibly lead to longer waiting times at airports.

In the case of ‘Brexit with a deal’, there will be no changes for EU citizens crossing the UK border during the transition period (i.e. until the end of 2020).

7. Will my Polish health insurance be still valid in the UK after Brexit?

In the event of ‘no-deal Brexit’, Polish citizens travelling to the UK will no longer have the healthcare cover under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This means that anyone travelling to the UK will need to take out additional insurance cover against the cost of any healthcare services provided abroad, which will protect them from the need to cover the costs related to any treatments following accidents or any emergency treatments out of their own pocket.

In the case of ‘Brexit with a deal’, there will be no changes to the access of Polish citizens to healthcare within the UK territory.

8. Upon arriving in the UK, I am planning to hire a car. Will my driving licence still be valid?

As declared by the UK government, Polish driving licences will continue to be valid within the UK territory. No problems are to be expected during traffic checks for drivers bearing a Polish driving licence in the UK.

9. What can I expect during transition period?

During the transition period (i.e. from 1.02.2020 to 31.12.2020), there will be no changes for anyone travelling to and from the UK.